Of the 21 Orlando-area football teams that qualified for the FHSAA state football playoffs, nine survived Thursday and Friday night’s first-round games to advance to region semifinals.
South Lake, in Class 6A District 2, won in the most dramatic fashion Friday, needing a comeback and three overtimes to oust Tampa Plant. Lake Nona, in 7A-3, scored its first playoff win in school history. And Dr. Phillips, also in 7A-3, pulled off a ranking upset with a win vs. previously unbeaten Jupiter.
Here are the highlights:
South Lake 37, Tampa Plant 36
South Lake Coach Brad Lord decided to roll the dice in the third overtime against Plant, opting for the two-point conversion. Malik Holman plowed through the middle of the line to give the Eagles their first playoff victory since 2000.
Chris McKenna kicked three field goals in the win, the last one a 44-yarder with 2:24 remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. He also was good from 32 and 42 yards.
Holman carried the ball 37 times for 258 yards and a touchdown. Junior quarterback Tre Kelly was 13 -of-22 passing for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. Isaiah Pina caught 5 passes for 136 yards and a TD. Keydrick Powell and Cam Johnson had TD catches. Jesse Barker had 9 tackles and a sack.
Dr. Phillips 23, Jupiter 20
Dr. Phillips, the 7A Region 3 champion a year ago, won on the road with senior Zion Matthews running for 140 yards and a pair of TDs.
Orlando-area high school football playoffs scoreboard (FHSAA and SSAA)
Lake Nona 29, St. Cloud 0
The Lions scored their first-ever playoff win in 7A-3. Senior quarterback Luke Ramsey, who took over the job midway through the season, scored on a pair of runs. Charles Woodson Jr., scored twice, once on a 65-yard halfback pass from JJ Hill, and the other on an 80-yard interception return. Recent Miami commit, DeAnthony Lafayette, a defensive end, had 3 sacks.
DeLand 70, Creekside 21
Marceles Carey continued his incredible senior season, scoring 4 touchdowns and picking off two passes on defense as the Bulldogs continued to dominate their opponents. Top seed DeLand has won its past five games by an average margin of 47 points going into its 7A-1 semifinal.
Lake Mary 42, Hagerty 14
Senior quarterback Noah Grubbs saved his season-best performance for the 7A-1 playoffs, tossing 6 touchdown passes. Grubbs connected with O’Shea Faison and Barrett Schulz twice, and also TJ Brundidge and Donovan Little. Grubbs moved to No. 11 on the state’s all-time passing yardage list.
Boone 24, Winter Park 12
Senior running back Aaron Hardy carried 27 times for 127 yards and two late touchdowns that sealed the 7A-2 victory. He also had four catches for 51 yards, including a huge 27-yard screen pass and run to set up the Braves’ go-ahead score with three minutes left. Boone QB Sam Johnson scored on a 54-yard run.
Edgewater 33, Lake Gibson 0
The Eagles, top seed in 5A-2, played without their top offensive weapon, senior running back Damian Moore, who was nursing an ankle injury, but no matter. Senior quarterback Carter Emanuel led the way with three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing).
Edgewater’s defense came up with four interceptions and had pick-six touchdowns by Nick Collins Jr. and Saphir Miller, who had two interceptions.
High school football: Lake Nona’s 1st playoff win; Edgewater, Lake Mary roll
Bishop Moore 61, Hernando 6
The Hornets, top seed in 3A-2, cruised with sophomore quarterback Blake McCullough throwing 5 touchdown passes. He was 12-of-13 for 147 yards. Magnus Talma, Matthew Sullivan, Jaxon Anderson, Kenyon Alston and Drew Follett all had TD catches. Amar’e Johnson ran for 108 yards and a touchdown. Lemuel Bass had a pick-6 touchdown.
SSAA semifinal
Mount Dora Christian 50, Foundation Academy 18
Sophomore running back Isaac Farling scored 6 touchdowns and Blake Banks had a pick-6 for the Bulldogs (11-1).
FHSAA State Playoffs
Thursday’s Result
Class 6A, Region 1
Buchholz 49, Oviedo 41
Friday’s Results
Class 7A, Region 1
No. 1 DeLand 70, No. 8 Creekside 21
No. 4 Boone 24, No. 5 Winter Park 12
No. 3 Spruce Creek 23, No. 6 Seminole 20
No. 2 Lake Mary 42, Hagerty 14
Class 7A Region 2
No. 3 Sumner 44, No. 6 Ocoee 13
No. 4 West Orange 45, No. 5 Plant City 30
Class 7A Region 3
No. 1 Vero Beach 57, No. 8 East Ridge 10
No. 5 Lake Nona 29, No. 4 St. Cloud 0
No. 7 Dr. Phillips 24, No. 2 Jupiter 21
Class 6A Region 1
No. 3 Pace 20, No. 6 Evans 6
Class 6A Region 2
No. 2 South Lake 37, No. 7 Plant 36 (3 OTs)
No. 3 Osceola 20, No. 6 Durant 15
Class 5A Region 2
No. 1 Edgewater 33, No. 8 Lake Gibson 0
No. 3 Gaither 56, No. 6 Winter Springs 0
Class 4A Region 2
No. 1 Jones 35, No. 8 Deltona 13
Class 3A Region 2
No. 1 Bishop Moore 61, No. 8 Hernando 6
No. 2 Eau Gallie 26, No. 7 Tavares 0
Class 1A Region 2
No. 4 Melbourne Central Catholic 21, No. 5 Orlando Christian Prep 4
SSAA 11-man semifinal
Mount Dora Christian 50, Foundation Academy 18
SSAA 8-man semifinal
Real Life Christian 49, Merritt Island Christian 26
Region semifinal pairings
7A Region 1
Boone (10-1) at DeLand (11-0)
Spruce Creek (9-2) at Lake Mary (8-3)
7A Region 2
West Orange (10-1) at Venice (7-3)
Sarasota Riverview (9-1-1) at Sumner (9-2)
7A Region 3
Lake Nona (8-3) at Vero Beach (11-0)
Ft. Pierce Central (10-1) at Dr. Phillips (9-2)
5A Region 2
Tampa Bay Tech (9-2) at Edgewater (11-0)
Gaither (10-1) at Lakeland (9-2)
4A,Region 2
Vanguard (9-2) at Jones (9-2)
Lake Wales (9-2) at Zephyrhills (11-0)
3A Region 2
Eastside (9-2) at Bishop Moore (10-1)
Merritt Island (7-4) at Eau Gallie (8-3)
SSAA Championships
SSAA 8-man final
Friday, 1 p.m., at The Villages
Real Life Christian (12-0) vs. Bradenton Christian (12-0)
SSAA 11-man final
Saturday, Nov. 22, 7 pm, at The Villages
Jupiter Christian (11-1) vs. Mount Dora Christian (11-1)
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.